Hopedale students score high on new MCAS exams

HOPEDALE - Although educators were warned that the newest version of the state’s testing system would be more difficult than previous exams, it appears Hopedale students were up to the challenge.

The district’s results for the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests, released this week, show local children and teenagers scored much higher than statewide averages, according to Superintendent Karen Crebase.

“In every grade level, in every subject area, we did significantly better than the state average,” she said.

Fourth-grade students saw the highest growth rate - essentially how much students learn or grow within a year time frame - in the state for English Language Arts subjects, she said.

The new MCAS “Next Generation” tests were the first change to the “Legacy” exams in two decades.

State educators upped the rigor of the exam, focusing on testing students how they apply knowledge and on their critical thinking skills and how well they can read and write, Crebase said.

“There’s a lot more of the higher thinking kinds of questions on it, and really the purpose of it is to give us a signal that kids are ready for the next grade level and for college and careers.”

The latest tests were given to third- through eighth-grade students. Tenth-grade students received the “Legacy” version of the exam last spring.

While the state told teachers and administrators to be prepared for low grades from the new test, the opposite seemed to happen in Hopedale.

Sixty-five percent of third-grade students were deemed as exceeding or meeting expectations in English Language Arts, compared to a 47 percent state average, results show.

Last year’s test results indicated students requirement more help with math subjects.

While it’s difficult to compare the new and old versions of the test, Crebase said the district seems to have made some gains.

Teachers worked over the past year to make sure the curriculum lines up so that students can transition easily between grades.

Fourth-grade students performed among the highest, with 82 percent exceeding or meeting expectations - notably higher than the state’s 49 percent average.

Seventy-seven percent of eighth-grade students fell into that category (48 percent on average statewide). Third-grade students were among the lowest in the district at 56 percent, but still higher than the state’s 49 percent average.

Tenth-grade students took the older “Legacy” exams with 99 percent earning a proficient or advanced designation for the English Language Arts test. Ninety-one percent received those marks in mathematics.

In science subjects, 45 percent of eighth grade students received a “needs improvement” grade, results show. Fifty percent were marked as advanced or proficient.

Crebase said educators have seen changes to the science program in recent years making a positive impact.

“We’ve got that forward momentum to continue to focus on that,” she said.

Christopher Gavin can be reached at 508 634-7582 or cgavin@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @c_gavinMDN